Pavements & Surfacings

The Pavement and Surfacings technical discipline is at the forefront of pavement engineering research, delivering economic, environmental and social benefits to the people of Western Australia.

This research and development area is delivering new and innovative pavement solutions and fit-for-purpose use of existing materials that will contribute to lower-cost, high-quality infrastructure specifically geared towards WA’s unique road network including:

  • Design of road pavement and surfacings with existing, new or alternative materials and processes (i.e. reclaimed asphalt, recycled crushed glass, etc.);
  • Rehabilitation of existing pavements, testing and pavement maintenance;
  • Bituminous surfacing design, asphalt pavement design and construction, in addition to spray sealing and associated treatments.

Since the WARRIP’s inception, a selection of major outcomes stemming from the Pavement and Surfacings technical discipline include:

  • Structural design of new pavements including a major revision of Main Roads Engineering Road Note 9
    to align with the updated Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 2;
  • Evaluation of existing pavements including development of a new Main Roads Engineering Road Note
    aligned with the updated Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 5;
  • Use of traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) in network-level assessment and
    project-level treatment selection and design;
  • Improved design of modified pavement materials to provide higher modulus
    and rut-resistance whilst managing the risk of reflective cracking;
  • Advanced asphalt mix designs including:
    • improved asphalt characterisation and comparison of laboratory tests
      for rut-resistance,
    • crumb rubber modified asphalt,
    • increased use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and
    • introduction of high modulus asphalt (EME2);
  • Bituminous binders:
    • development of crumb rubber modified binders to be used in asphalt and
    • comparing the in-service performance of different PMB grades for asphalt and sprayed seals;
  • Updating Main Roads specifications based on national and international best practice and robust research evidence.

Furthermore, collaboration with industry, academia, and government agencies is a key strategy to maximising the benefits delivered to WA.

Relevant Projects

Project Transfer of CRM Bitumen to WA ARBB Project Image IMG 1300 scaled Transfer of Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen Technology to Western Australia 1
Completed

Transfer of Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen Technology to Western Australia

Project Transfer of CRM Bitumen to WA ARBB Project Image IMG 1300 scaled Transfer of Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen Technology to Western Australia 3
Completed

Transfer of Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen Technology to Western Australia

Wester Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5 shutterstock 1761740045 scaled Western Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5 5
Completed

Western Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5

Wester Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5 shutterstock 1761740045 scaled Western Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5 7
Completed

Western Australia Rehabilitation Supplement to Austroads Part 5

SAT4P for WARRIP Website Sustainability Assessment Tool for Innovative Pavements 9
In Progress

Sustainability Assessment Tool for Innovative Pavements

SAT4P for WARRIP Website Sustainability Assessment Tool for Innovative Pavements 11
In Progress

Sustainability Assessment Tool for Innovative Pavements

Project Stone Mastic Asphalt scaled Review of Stone Mastic Asphalt in Western Australia 13
Completed

Review of Stone Mastic Asphalt in Western Australia

Project Stone Mastic Asphalt scaled Review of Stone Mastic Asphalt in Western Australia 15
Completed

Review of Stone Mastic Asphalt in Western Australia

Review of light emitting lane demarcation technologies shutterstock 1940570143 scaled Review of Light-Emitting Lane Demarcation Technologies 17
Completed

Review of Light-Emitting Lane Demarcation Technologies

Review of light emitting lane demarcation technologies shutterstock 1940570143 scaled Review of Light-Emitting Lane Demarcation Technologies 19
Completed

Review of Light-Emitting Lane Demarcation Technologies

Project Investigating Tonkin Reid shutterstock 1703657701 scaled Investigation of the Tonkin and Reid Highway Trial Sections 21
Completed

Investigation of the Tonkin and Reid Highway Trial Sections

Project Investigating Tonkin Reid shutterstock 1703657701 scaled Investigation of the Tonkin and Reid Highway Trial Sections 23
Completed

Investigation of the Tonkin and Reid Highway Trial Sections

Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in WA shutterstock 284940650 1 scaled Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in Western Australia 25
In Progress

Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in Western Australia

Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in WA shutterstock 284940650 1 scaled Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in Western Australia 27
In Progress

Investigation of Asphalt Pavement Temperatures in Western Australia

Investigating the use of recycled plastic shutterstock 1492220252 scaled Investigating the use of recycled plastic in future sustainable road infrastructure 29
In Progress

Investigating the use of recycled plastic in future sustainable road infrastructure

Investigating the use of recycled plastic shutterstock 1492220252 scaled Investigating the use of recycled plastic in future sustainable road infrastructure 31
In Progress

Investigating the use of recycled plastic in future sustainable road infrastructure

Project Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Crumb Rubber DSC 1999 scaled Investigating the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Asphalt Containing Crumb Rubber Modified Binder 33
Completed

Investigating the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Asphalt Containing Crumb Rubber Modified Binder

Project Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Crumb Rubber DSC 1999 scaled Investigating the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Asphalt Containing Crumb Rubber Modified Binder 35
Completed

Investigating the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement from Asphalt Containing Crumb Rubber Modified Binder

Implementing the Increased Use of Reclaimed Ashpalt Pavement RAP shutterstock 2139515303 scaled Implementing the Increased use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) 37
Completed

Implementing the Increased use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP)

Implementing the Increased Use of Reclaimed Ashpalt Pavement RAP shutterstock 2139515303 scaled Implementing the Increased use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) 39
Completed

Implementing the Increased use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP)

Project EME2 scaled High Modulus Asphalt (EME2) 41
Completed

High Modulus Asphalt (EME2)

Project EME2 scaled High Modulus Asphalt (EME2) 43
Completed

High Modulus Asphalt (EME2)

Project Ground Speed Instrumentation for TSD Ground Instrumentation for Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) 45
Completed

Ground Instrumentation for Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD)

Project Ground Speed Instrumentation for TSD Ground Instrumentation for Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) 47
Completed

Ground Instrumentation for Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD)

Project An Evaluation of the TSD scaled An Evaluation of the Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) for Main Roads Western Australia 49
Completed

An Evaluation of the Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) for Main Roads Western Australia

Project An Evaluation of the TSD scaled An Evaluation of the Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) for Main Roads Western Australia 51
Completed

An Evaluation of the Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) for Main Roads Western Australia

Project Crumb Rubber Digestion 1 Evaluate the digestion potential of crumb rubber in road grade bitumen 53
In Progress

Evaluate the digestion potential of crumb rubber in road grade bitumen

Project Crumb Rubber Digestion 1 Evaluate the digestion potential of crumb rubber in road grade bitumen 55
In Progress

Evaluate the digestion potential of crumb rubber in road grade bitumen

Project ERN9 shutterstock 724776298 scaled Engineering Road Notes (ERN9) 57
Completed

Engineering Road Notes (ERN9)

Project ERN9 shutterstock 724776298 scaled Engineering Road Notes (ERN9) 59
Completed

Engineering Road Notes (ERN9)

Warm Mix shutterstock 1442625251 scaled Development of Specifications and Technical Guidelines for Warm Mix Asphalt 61
Completed

Development of Specifications and Technical Guidelines for Warm Mix Asphalt

Warm Mix shutterstock 1442625251 scaled Development of Specifications and Technical Guidelines for Warm Mix Asphalt 63
Completed

Development of Specifications and Technical Guidelines for Warm Mix Asphalt

Project Capillary Rise New scaled Development of a Standard Test Method for Measuring Capillary Rise of Non-Cohesive Soils 65
Completed

Development of a Standard Test Method for Measuring Capillary Rise of Non-Cohesive Soils

Project Capillary Rise New scaled Development of a Standard Test Method for Measuring Capillary Rise of Non-Cohesive Soils 67
Completed

Development of a Standard Test Method for Measuring Capillary Rise of Non-Cohesive Soils

Development of a Bond Strength Test shutterstock 301354370 scaled Development of a Bond Strength Test for Assessing Delamination Potential of Asphalt Pavements 69
Completed

Development of a Bond Strength Test for Assessing Delamination Potential of Asphalt Pavements

Development of a Bond Strength Test shutterstock 301354370 scaled Development of a Bond Strength Test for Assessing Delamination Potential of Asphalt Pavements 71
Completed

Development of a Bond Strength Test for Assessing Delamination Potential of Asphalt Pavements

Project Cost Effective Pavement Thickness shutterstock 1746752606 scaled Cost Effective Pavement Thickness Design 73
Completed

Cost Effective Pavement Thickness Design

Project Cost Effective Pavement Thickness shutterstock 1746752606 scaled Cost Effective Pavement Thickness Design 75
Completed

Cost Effective Pavement Thickness Design

Project Innovative Pavement Technologies shutterstock 1928168759 scaled Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies 77
Completed

Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies

Project Innovative Pavement Technologies shutterstock 1928168759 scaled Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies 79
Completed

Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies

Project design moduli shutterstock 2260874495 scaled Improved Requirements for Asphalt Design Moduli 81
In Progress

Improved Requirements for Asphalt Design Moduli

Project design moduli shutterstock 2260874495 scaled Improved Requirements for Asphalt Design Moduli 83
In Progress

Improved Requirements for Asphalt Design Moduli

Project Review of Moisture damage scaled Review of Moisture Impacts on Asphalt Pavement Performance 85
Completed

Review of Moisture Impacts on Asphalt Pavement Performance

Project Review of Moisture damage scaled Review of Moisture Impacts on Asphalt Pavement Performance 87
Completed

Review of Moisture Impacts on Asphalt Pavement Performance

Project Optimising laser profilometer data shutterstock 1708127695 scaled Optimising Laser Profilometer Data to Report Rut Depth, Roughness and Surface Texture 89
Completed

Optimising Laser Profilometer Data to Report Rut Depth, Roughness and Surface Texture

Project Optimising laser profilometer data shutterstock 1708127695 scaled Optimising Laser Profilometer Data to Report Rut Depth, Roughness and Surface Texture 91
Completed

Optimising Laser Profilometer Data to Report Rut Depth, Roughness and Surface Texture

Project Investigation of HCTCRB scaled Investigation of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rocks Base Trial Sections 93
In Progress

Investigation of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rocks Base Trial Sections

Project Investigation of HCTCRB scaled Investigation of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rocks Base Trial Sections 95
In Progress

Investigation of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rocks Base Trial Sections

Project Intelligent Compaction shutterstock 430786537 scaled Intelligent Compaction Control (ICC) – Field Trial Methodology and Trials 97
Completed

Intelligent Compaction Control (ICC) – Field Trial Methodology and Trials

Project Intelligent Compaction shutterstock 430786537 scaled Intelligent Compaction Control (ICC) – Field Trial Methodology and Trials 99
Completed

Intelligent Compaction Control (ICC) – Field Trial Methodology and Trials

Project Implementing GPR AdobeStock 301193726 scaled Implementation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Western Australia 101
Completed

Implementation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Western Australia

Project Implementing GPR AdobeStock 301193726 scaled Implementation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Western Australia 103
Completed

Implementation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Western Australia

Project An Evaluation of the TSD scaled Improving Pavement Deflection Bowl Predictions from TSD Measured Responses to Load 105
In Progress

Improving Pavement Deflection Bowl Predictions from TSD Measured Responses to Load

Project An Evaluation of the TSD scaled Improving Pavement Deflection Bowl Predictions from TSD Measured Responses to Load 107
In Progress

Improving Pavement Deflection Bowl Predictions from TSD Measured Responses to Load

Project Evaluation of Nanosilica AdobeStock 53745579 scaled Evaluation and Characterisation of Nanosilica-Modified Asphalt Materials 109
Completed

Evaluation and Characterisation of Nanosilica-Modified Asphalt Materials

Project Evaluation of Nanosilica AdobeStock 53745579 scaled Evaluation and Characterisation of Nanosilica-Modified Asphalt Materials 111
Completed

Evaluation and Characterisation of Nanosilica-Modified Asphalt Materials

Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures shutterstock 635194340 scaled Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures 113
Completed

Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures

Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures shutterstock 635194340 scaled Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures 115
Completed

Asphalt Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures

Contact Us

The Western Australian Road Research Innovation Program (WARRIP) is a collaborative research initiative between Main Roads Western Australia (Main Roads) and the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB).

icon home row5 Pavement & Surfacings 117

Click Here to Receive WARRIP News & Updates